Impact of Gender on Reactions to Military Sexual Assault and Harassment (original) (raw)
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Military sexual trauma in treatment-seeking women veterans
Military Psychology, 2009
As the number of women serving in the military continues to grow, it is increasingly important to explore the sequelae of military sexual trauma (MST) among female veterans. The current study included 232 female veterans who sought outpatient mental health treatment at an urban Veterans Affairs hospital. The study's aims were to (a) describe and compare the demographic characteristics, health behaviors, and psychological symptoms of female veterans who have experienced MST to those veterans who do not report this experience; and (b) examine the associations between psychological symptoms and health behaviors in this sample, stratified by MST sta-tus. Results indicate that treatment-seeking women veterans who reported experiencing MST endorsed more psychological distress compared to those who did not report experiencing MST. In addition, psychological symptoms were associated with engaging in problematic health behaviors, such as binge eating and infrequent physical exercise among both those women who experienced MST and those who did not.
Perceptions of Female Veteran Military Sexual Trauma: A Phenomenological Study
2019
Military sexual trauma (MST) occurs at devastating rates to service members, by service members, and is widely misunderstood, qualitatively understudied, and reporting may be procedurally biased. The purpose of this study was to phenomenologically explore the lived experiences of female veteran MST survivors with their leadership (chain of command/supervisors) and understand how military culture effects these individuals. A feminist-theory conceptual framework was applied to contextualize hegemonic hypermasculine military culture and the divide and damage it may cause to female service members before MST, when surviving an MST event, and when surviving post-MST fallout. This study included 10 participants who were female, experienced MST, and served in the military for at least 90 days. Through qualitative inquiry, participants were interviewed by telephone between July 2019 and September 2019. Each interview was recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using interpretive phenomenologica...
Violence and Gender
Conduct a narrative review study to identify, evaluate, and summarize pertinent published literature on the influence of U.S. military culture on male victims of military sexual assault (MSA) and military sexual trauma (MST). Various aspects of military culture have been shown to contribute significantly to barriers of reporting, prevention, and social support for male service members who have experienced MST and MSA in the U.S. military forces. A variety of U.S. military cultural factors associated with barriers to reporting MST/MSA among male military service members and veterans were assessed and identified in this narrative review. Overall study findings suggest that increasing research on the impact of military culture and male MST and MSA is imperative in the effort to reduce and prevent sexual violence within the U.S. military armed forces. Various aspects of the U.S. military culture play a significant role in the influence of sexual assault occurrences that take place within U.S. military service units. Supporting evidence suggests that the U.S. military culture impacts the overall severity of barriers to reporting sexual assault and/or trauma among male military service members and veterans.
Women at war: Understanding how women veterans cope with combat and military sexual trauma
Social Science & Medicine, 2012
The wars in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom, OIF) and Afghanistan (Operation Enduring Freedom, OEF) have engendered a growing population of US female veterans, with women now comprising 15% of active US duty military personnel. Women serving in the military come under direct fire and experience combatrelated injuries and trauma, and are also often subject to in-service sexual assaults and sexual harassment. However, little is known regarding how women veterans cope with these combat and military sexual trauma experiences once they return from deployment. To better understand their experiences, we conducted semi-structured interviews with nineteen OEF/OIF women veterans between JanuaryeNovember 2009. Women veterans identified stressful military experiences and post-deployment reintegration problems as major stressors. Stressful military experiences included combat experiences, military sexual trauma, and separation from family. Women had varying abilities to address and manage stressors, and employed various cognitive and behavioral coping resources and processes to manage their stress.
1997
Public reporting burden tor thra collection of rtonwMn is eatimated to average 1 hour oar response, including the lima for reviewing instruerJona. »arching axiaring data aaurc* gathanng and maintaining tna data naadad. and completing and reviewing tha collection of information. Sand comments regarding tnia burden «aomata or any othar aasen of th collection of information, including auggastuna for reouang tin« burden, to Washington Haadouartars Sarvicaa. Oirsetarata tor Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jaffara Davia Highway, Suite 1204. Arlington. VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Piperwont Reduction Project (0704-01881, Washington. OC 20503. 3. How is the military response to victimization reports associated with subsequent psychological functioning and health status outcomes of affected women veterans? 4. How is psychological functioning and health status of women veterans affected by sexual victimization? Methods Subjects The study design involved a historical cohort study of women veterans who had served in Vietnam, post-Vietnam, or the Persian Gulf War eras. Results from a pilot study indicated sexual violence occurred significantly more often in women serving in Vietnam and subsequent eras, as compared to those serving previously. A national registry of 8,693 women veterans serving in these periods was compiled from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) comprehensive women's health care centers registries. Geographic regions of the United States of subjects in the registry included the northeast (Boston), south (Durham, Tampa), mid-central (Minneapolis, Chicago); and west coast (Los Angeles). Women veterans included in these registries have either: 1) obtained treatment at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) or Vet Center, 2) sought a service-connected disability, 3) attended local veteran's conferences, or 4) answered newspaper advertisements requesting registration for mailing lists. Based upon the pilot data and a conservative 17% response rate, a random sample, stratified by region and era of service, consisting of 2,172 subjects was selected from the registry to achieve a final desired sample of 550 participants. Data Collection Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval was obtained from The U.S. Army Medical Research Command (USAMRC), Iowa City Veterans' Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and The University of Iowa. Cover letters with information summaries and consent forms were sent with postage paid return envelopes to potential subjects in a staged process. Written informed consent was required by USAMRC's IRB. Mailings (n=2,172) were distributed over a six-month period (September 1996 to March 1997) in order to minimize the lag between obtaining consent and participation. Follow-up letters were mailed to non-responders approximately six weeks following initial contact. Subjects returning consent forms were scheduled for a computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) performed by The
1996
Public reporting burden tor thra collection of rtonwMn is eatimated to average 1 hour oar response, including the lima for reviewing instruerJona. »arching axiaring data aaurc* gathanng and maintaining tna data naadad. and completing and reviewing tha collection of information. Sand comments regarding tnia burden «aomata or any othar aasen of th collection of information, including auggastuna for reouang tin« burden, to Washington Haadouartars Sarvicaa. Oirsetarata tor Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jaffara Davia Highway, Suite 1204. Arlington. VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Piperwont Reduction Project (0704-01881, Washington. OC 20503. 3. How is the military response to victimization reports associated with subsequent psychological functioning and health status outcomes of affected women veterans? 4. How is psychological functioning and health status of women veterans affected by sexual victimization? Methods Subjects The study design involved a historical cohort study of women veterans who had served in Vietnam, post-Vietnam, or the Persian Gulf War eras. Results from a pilot study indicated sexual violence occurred significantly more often in women serving in Vietnam and subsequent eras, as compared to those serving previously. A national registry of 8,693 women veterans serving in these periods was compiled from the Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) comprehensive women's health care centers registries. Geographic regions of the United States of subjects in the registry included the northeast (Boston), south (Durham, Tampa), mid-central (Minneapolis, Chicago); and west coast (Los Angeles). Women veterans included in these registries have either: 1) obtained treatment at a Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) or Vet Center, 2) sought a service-connected disability, 3) attended local veteran's conferences, or 4) answered newspaper advertisements requesting registration for mailing lists. Based upon the pilot data and a conservative 17% response rate, a random sample, stratified by region and era of service, consisting of 2,172 subjects was selected from the registry to achieve a final desired sample of 550 participants. Data Collection Institutional Review Board (IRB) approval was obtained from The U.S. Army Medical Research Command (USAMRC), Iowa City Veterans' Affairs Medical Center (VAMC) and The University of Iowa. Cover letters with information summaries and consent forms were sent with postage paid return envelopes to potential subjects in a staged process. Written informed consent was required by USAMRC's IRB. Mailings (n=2,172) were distributed over a six-month period (September 1996 to March 1997) in order to minimize the lag between obtaining consent and participation. Follow-up letters were mailed to non-responders approximately six weeks following initial contact. Subjects returning consent forms were scheduled for a computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) performed by The
Journal of Social, Behavioral, and Health Sciences
Sexual assault is a prevailing problem for active duty women in the United States military. We explore the unique nature of military culture and explain the military’s dual pathway process for reporting sexual assault. In addition, we describe, in depth, evidence-based theoretical approaches applicable for counselors to use in their work with female service members who are survivors of sexual assault. Finally, we discuss sexual assault resources available to military clients and the steps counselors can take to engage in advocacy for and with this population.
Military Sexual Trauma Among U.S. Female Veterans
Archives of Psychiatric Nursing, 2011
Sexual abuse among female veterans reportedly occurs in significant numbers in the U.S. military and has been recognized to cause posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD, which stems from sexual abuse, has been called military sexual trauma (MST), which has only recently been recognized by the Department of Defense. Consequently, there has been scant research on the prevalence, impact, and treatment of MST. This article explores the phenomenon of sexual aggression against female veterans in the U.S. military, risk factors for MST, PTSD as a result of MST, a conceptual framework for treating PTSD stress, and treatment strategies for PTSD.
In the Viper Pit: Male Rape and Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
The Left Hand of Feminism: A Blog Inspired by Ursula K. LeGuin, 2013
This paper explores some of the bio-psycho-social-spiritual effects of sexual assault on male survivors of Military Sexual Trauma (MST). Although the percentage of female survivors of MST is greater than the percentage of male survivors, the number of men who have sustained this trauma far exceeds the number of female survivors, since the veteran population remains overwhelmingly male. Men who have been sexually assaulted are as likely if not more likely to develop post-traumatic stress syndrome as veterans who have experienced combat-related trauma. There is virtually no research on male survivors, who face some different problems than female survivors of MST and who generally have greater difficulty discussing or seeking treatment for their trauma. It is vital for social workers to educate themselves about men’s issues with MST and to develop novel ways to make it easier for male survivors to discuss their experiences.